Contact lens insertion device

ABSTRACT

A contact lens insertion device includes a syringe having a barrel and a piston slidably disposed within the barrel. The barrel is adapted for receiving a fluid which is drawn into the barrel and dispensed from the barrel through operation of the piston. A cup is attached to the syringe. The cup includes a concave surface adapted to receive a contact lens therein. The cup further includes a chamber in fluid communication with the syringe barrel. The concave surface of the cup includes an aperture in communication with the chamber, such that fluid or gel flows from the barrel through the chamber and cup aperture upon actuation of the piston to force the fluid or the gel to flow out of the cup aperture to thereby eject the contact lens from the cup.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to contact lenses, and more particularlyto a device for inserting bandage contact lenses into a patient's eye tominimize contamination of and damage to the contact lens and to shortenthe insertion time.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Bandage contact lenses are often applied following eye surgery (or eyeinjury) to cover and protect the corneal area. The lens is normallyapplied by a ophthalmic surgeon as part of a surgical procedure.Previous procedures have required a surgical assistant to remove a lensfrom a blister pack. Sterile sponges are used to maneuver the lens firstonto the sponge, which is then passed to a surgeon who applies the lensto the patient's eye. Since the lens is extremely thin, handling thelens may cause the lens to fold, and stick to itself. Efforts to unfoldthe lens can waste time and can damage the lens, rendering it unusable.Efficient insertion methods are thereby required which will not causedamage to a lens or injure the eye of a patient.

Therefore, a need has arisen for a contact lens insertion device that iseasy to operate and which minimizes contamination of and damage to thecontact lens.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, a contact lens insertiondevice is provided that includes a syringe having a barrel and a pistonslidably disposed within the barrel. The barrel is adapted for receivinga fluid which is drawn into the barrel and dispensed from the barrelthrough operation of the piston. A cup is attached to the syringe. Thecup includes a concave surface adapted to receive a contact lenstherein. The cup further includes a chamber in fluid communication withthe syringe barrel. The concave surface of the cup includes an aperturein communication with the chamber, such that fluid flows from the barrelthrough the chamber and cup aperture upon actuation of the piston toforce fluid to flow out of the cup aperture to thereby eject the contactlens from the cup and onto the surface of the eye.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention and forfurther advantages thereof, reference is now made to the followingDescription of the Preferred Embodiments taken in conjunction with theaccompanying Drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present insertion device;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the present insertion device illustrated inFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along section lines 3—3of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 illustrates a contact lens being ejected from the cup of thepresent insertion device into an eye.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring simultaneously to FIGS. 1-3, the present contact lensinsertion device is illustrated, and is generally identified by thenumeral 10. As used herein, the term contact lens includes lenses of anymaterial or color and with and without correction. Insertion device 10includes a syringe, generally identified by the numeral 12. Syringe 12includes a cup 14 which is adapted to receive a contact lens (notshown). Cup 14 may be fabricated from any material; for example, steelor plastic materials. Syringe 12 is of a conventional design andincludes a barrel 16 and a piston 18. Piston 18 is adapted toreciprocatingly slide within barrel 16 to alternately draw fluid withinbarrel 16 and force fluid from barrel 16.

Piston 18 includes a head 22 which creates a fluid-tight seal againstthe entire circumference of the inside surface 24 of barrel 16 forpreventing fluid from leaking out of end 26 of barrel 16. Fluid disposedwithin barrel 16 of syringe 12 may be, for example, water, a salinesolution, a balanced salt solution, or a gel.

Cup 14 is attached to a tip 28 of syringe 12. Tip 28 of syringe 12 mayinclude, for example, a Luer lock connector with an Archimedes screw forattachment to cup 14. Any type of interference fit connection may beutilized for attaching tip 28 to cup 14. Cup 14 includes a chamber 30 influid communication via tip 28 with barrel 16. Cup 14 includes a concavesurface 32 upon which a contact lens is placed. Surface 32 includes aplurality of apertures 34 which communicate with chamber 30. Byoperation of piston 18, fluid is ejected from barrel 16 into chamber 30of cup 14, and fluid exits chamber 30 via apertures 34.

Referring now to FIG. 4, in operation of the present insertion device10, a contact lens 50 to be inserted or deposited into an eye 52 ispositioned within cup 14 on surface 32 after barrel 16 of syringe 12 hasbeen filled with a desired fluid. Piston 18 of syringe 12 is activated aby physician following a surgical procedure to expel fluid 56 frombarrel 16 of syringe 12, thereby ejecting contact lens 50 from cup 14 sothat contact lens 50 washes quickly and gently onto eye 52 in the properunfolded condition and in the proper orientation. As shown in FIG. 4,when in use, insertion device 10 is inverted so that cup 14 is pointingtoward the eye 52. Lens 50 is retained within cup 14 by surface tensiondue to the wetting of surface 32 of cup 14. Thus, lens 50 will not beejected from device 10 until a sufficient amount of water is ejectedfrom barrel 16.

Lens 50 may be pre-packaged with insertion device 10 in a sterilepackage with the barrel of the insertion device loaded with a fluid orgel, and lens 50 disposed within cup 14. A surgeon would simply removedevice 10 from the sterile package and be ready to insert lens 50.

It therefore can be seen that the present invention provides for acontact lens insertion device which does not require the user todirectly contact the lens nor require excessive lens manipulation norwasted time during insertion of the lens.

Whereas the present invention has been described with respect tospecific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various changesand modifications will be suggested to one skilled in the art and it isintended to encompass such changes and modifications as fall within thescope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A contact lens insertion device comprising: asyringe including a barrel and a piston slidably disposed within saidbarrel to alternately draw fluid within said barrel and evacuate fluidfrom said barrel; said fluid is selected from the group consisting ofwater, a saline solution, a balanced salt solution, and a gel; a cupattached to said syringe, said cup including a concave surface adaptedto receive a contact lens therein, a contact lens being retained withinsaid cup by surface tension created by said fluid; and said cup furtherincluding a chamber in fluid communication with said barrel, saidconcave surface of said cup including a plurality of apertures in fluidcommunication with said chamber, such that upon actuation of said pistonto evacuate fluid from said barrel of said syringe, fluid is expelledfrom said plurality of apertures to overcome the surface tensionretaining a contact lens on said concave surface and thereby eject acontact lens disposed on said concave surface of said cup.